White Dragon Temple, located midway between White Crane Town and Yunyang City, cannot be considered the largest temple in Youzhou, but it is undoubtedly the most exquisite one in the region. The temple halls are magnificent, the scenery is delightful, and its vegetarian cuisine is particularly renowned.
Since it is only an hour’s carriage ride from Yunyang City, the foremost city in Youzhou, wealthy and noble families frequent White Dragon Temple on ordinary days. Especially during major Buddhist festivals, the number of pilgrims is beyond count.
Fortunately, today was not a major occasion like the Buddha’s Birthday. Even so, when the Ren Family’s carriage arrived at the temple’s mountain gate, they still saw quite a few carriages coming and going.
Ren Yaoqi had visited White Dragon Temple once or twice before, though that was in her previous life.
After alighting from the carriage, First Madam and her daughter-in-law, Zhao Shi, walked ahead, conversing in low voices. The younger generation followed behind them.
Ren Yaoyu whispered to her brother in complaint, “Didn’t they say earlier that only the older siblings would come? Why did Aunt and Sister-in-law come too?”
Ren Yijian was talking with Ren Yihong and paid her no attention, leaving her feeling slighted. However, Ren Yaoyu dared not confront her brother, as she had many favors to ask of him lately.
Not far inside the entrance of White Dragon Temple, on the white pathway in the center of the square, lay a north-south oriented Single-Arch Bridge. The entire bridge was about three to four zhang long, one zhang wide, and slightly over a zhang deep. However, there was no water beneath it; instead, a golden water channel was paved with blue bricks. On the eastern and western sides of the bridge’s arch hung round, square-holed coin-shaped bells.
As Ren Yaoqi and her group passed by the white stone railing less than two zhang from the bridge, directly facing the right side of the arch, Ren Yijian hurriedly said to the maidservant behind him, “Quick, give the young master a few coins—” while boasting to Ren Yihong, “Every time I pass by here, I hit the target without fail.”
It turned out that the coin-shaped bells in the bridge arch were for pilgrims to strike. Standing outside the railing and tossing copper coins at the bell, if one heard a “ding” sound, they would receive good fortune.
Children loved this game the most, often refusing to leave until they heard the bell ring. Ren Yaoqi had tried it during her previous visits but never succeeded.
The railing was already surrounded by people, and from time to time, the sound of a “ding” and cheers could be heard.
First Madam, however, turned to the eager Ren Yijian and said, “Jian’er, let’s first go inside to offer incense to the Buddha. After that, you can explore the temple.”
Ren Yijian glanced at First Madam’s kindly expression and reluctantly put away the two coins in his hand.
First Madam then turned back and continued walking while conversing with Eldest Young Madam.
First Madam was a devout Buddhist, and her reverence for the Buddha was sincere. Thus, the younger members of the Ren Family followed her in an orderly manner. Even Ren Yaoyu, whose mother was not present, behaved more obediently in front of First Madam.
Although First Madam always spoke kindly to the younger generation of the Ren Family, her long tenure as the head of the household had endowed her with a dignified presence. As a result, the younger ones remained well-behaved and respectful in her presence, not daring to act recklessly.
After following First Madam into the hall to offer incense, she instructed them, “Your sister-in-law and I will go to draw divination sticks. You may stroll around the temple and return when it’s time for the meal. However, remember not to wander off alone, especially you young ladies. Jinyuan and Yaohua, you are older and more composed, so please take extra care to look after your younger siblings.”Everyone agreed. Ren Yijian immediately pulled Ren Yihong along as they left, while also asking Yun Wenfang and Qiu Yun, "Cousins, would you like to come with us?"
Qiu Yun opened and closed his folding fan, shaking his head with a smile. "We're not children anymore; we don't play those games."
Ren Yijian rolled his eyes and ran off.
Ren Yijun glanced at his mother and quietly moved toward Ren Yaoqi. First Madam frowned and said, "Yijun, come here. You'll go with your mother and your eldest sister-in-law to draw fortune sticks."
At this moment, Ren Yijun was still quite obedient to his mother. So, despite his obvious reluctance, he eventually stopped in his tracks and returned to her side, though his gloomy expression was enough to make anyone keep their distance.
First Madam then turned to Ren Yaoyin, who was leaning lightly on a servant woman and looking somewhat unwell. "I’ve asked the reception monk to prepare a room for resting. Come with me to take a break."
Ren Yaoyin couldn’t handle the jolting of the carriage and was feeling uncomfortable. Since she couldn’t travel long distances by carriage, Madam Lin had once joked that Ren Yaoyin suffered from a delicate constitution and would have to marry someone nearby, as she wouldn’t be able to marry too far away.
Ren Yaoqi hesitated about whether to follow Ren Yijun. After a moment’s thought, she said to First Madam, "Aunt, I’d like to go with you to draw fortune sticks as well."
First Madam looked at her with some surprise but replied gently, "You’re still young; there’s no need for you to go. Why don’t you go play with your sisters? I remember there’s an apricot blossom grove on the back hill of White Dragon Temple. I wonder if the flowers have bloomed yet."
Ren Yaoyu curled her lip and muttered softly, "In years when it’s not too cold, they usually bloom around the third or fourth month. This year is colder than usual, so how could they bloom so early?"
But First Madam had already walked away with Eldest Young Madam and Ren Yaoyin. Ren Yijun followed behind them with his hands clasped behind his back, looking utterly listless. When First Madam noticed, she turned around and scolded him a few times, forcing him to muster some semblance of energy.
Seeing that First Madam and the others had left, Ren Yaoyu immediately asked Qiu Yun, "Cousin, where shall we go?"
Qiu Yun glanced at Yun Wenfang and then at the Ren sisters.
Ren Yaoyu looked at him with a bright smile, while Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi seemed lost in their own thoughts, their attention elsewhere.
"Why don’t we head to the apricot blossom grove on the back hill first? Even if the apricot blossoms haven’t bloomed yet, the scenery on the hill is still quite nice. After all, we originally came here for a spring outing, didn’t we? Inside the temple, there are only clay statues of Bodhisattvas and grand halls with carved beams—nothing lively to see."
No one objected.
Qiu Yun was quite familiar with White Dragon Temple, so he didn’t need a monk to guide them. He led the way to the back hill, all the while regaling everyone with witty remarks about the temple’s origins and the stories behind some of its structures.
This was just the kind of person Qiu Yun was. If he wanted to appear warm and friendly, he could be your most considerate and engaging companion. But if he wanted to keep his distance, he became a difficult-to-approach stranger, though one who was always impeccable in his manners.
It was precisely because of this that Ren Yaoqi had disliked him in her previous life. In this life, she still preferred to keep her distance.
This early spring, the apricot blossoms on the back hill of White Dragon Temple had indeed not yet fully bloomed. However, some branches of the apricot trees bore scattered, tiny buds."Shall we go sit in that pavilion?" Qiu Yun, playing the part of a good guide, pointed to an octagonal pavilion nestled among the apricot trees and said to the group.
As they approached, they noticed the pavilion was already occupied—two young men and two young women, all around thirteen or fourteen years old.
Qiu Yun paused, frowning slightly as he whispered to Yun Wenfang, "Oh no, they're acquaintances. Do you want to avoid them?"
Yun Wenfang raised an eyebrow slightly, glanced at the people in the pavilion, and curled his lips. "No need. It's not like I'm afraid he'll report me."
Just then, a young man in a blue spring robe inside the pavilion looked over. When his gaze met Qiu Yun and Yun Wenfang, he was momentarily taken aback, then immediately stood up and greeted them warmly, "Zishu, Jinyuan, what brings you here?"
Qiu Yun walked forward with a smile. "Brother Su, I didn’t expect to run into you here."
Ren Yaoqi also looked at the people in the pavilion. The young man acquainted with Qiu Yun and Yun Wenfang had delicate features, exuding a faint scholarly air. His every gesture was composed and steady, clearly indicating a respectable background.
Qiu Yun addressed him as "Brother Su"—could he be from the Su family of Yunyang City?
Unfortunately, in her previous life, Ren Yaoqi had rarely had the chance to go out while in Yanbei, as she was not favored by Old Madam Ren. The Ren Family visited Yunyang City quite often, but Ren Yaoqi seldom went, and even then, only to her maternal grandparents’ home.
In her previous life, she might not have recognized people she had met, and in this life, she was even less likely to.
The other young man in the pavilion had an ordinary appearance, but his attire was exquisite. Of the two young women, one could barely be called delicate, with a few freckles on her face. The other, slightly younger, was quite pretty, but her overly lively eyes made her somewhat unappealing.
Over there, the young man surnamed Su was speaking very amiably to Yun Wenfang. "...It’s been a long time since I last saw you. I heard from your brother that you’ve been traveling far?"
Leaning against a pavilion pillar, Yun Wenfang appeared rather lazy. In response, he merely gave a noncommittal "Hmm," as if indifferent to the friendly overtures of the young man surnamed Su.
Qiu Yun quickly stepped in to change the subject, slapping his forehead. "Ah, how rude of me. Brother Su, these are my three cousins from the Ren Family. Third Cousin, Fifth Cousin, Eighth Cousin, this is the second young master of the Su family, Su Yunchen. His paternal aunt is Second Aunt from the Eastern Mansion, so technically, he’s also your cousin."
So he really was from the Su family.
Ren Yaoqi and the others quickly curtsied in greeting.
Su Yunchen returned the gesture with a polite bow and introduced the other three in the pavilion to Ren Yaoqi’s group.
"This is the eldest young master of the Tang family. Zishu, Jinyuan, you must have met him before—he just joined our academy last year. These two young ladies are his cousins, from the Liu family of Guidong Lane in Yunyang City."
Thank you to Who Is My Family’s Empress Dowager, Night Is Me, anne198138, Tutu Tiger,
Chouchou’s Warm Winter, Little Little Water Drops, sylvainagain, Summer’s Yilan, Old Yan YYZ, chlorine,
Book Friend 090411115909555, Shushu Liuliu, Situ Linglong, sisuo, yu Nüyao, zhaoq023,
Qingqing Yiyun, Passing Guest Jiujiu, Snow Fish Doll, Midnight Traveler, Qisha Laoye, chrisljz.A heartfelt thank you to all of you for your pink votes～^^
(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian () to cast your recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
OpenNovel